Many musicians sing about heartache, despair and confusion, but few have experienced those feelings more intensely than James Taylor, who rose from a privileged childhood as the son of an affluent medical school dean to become a modern-day troubadour and pop superstar. When he was 17 years old, Taylor's personal demons led him to a Massachusetts mental institution where he confronted them the only way he knew how - by writing his first songs. 30 years later, Taylor's songs are among the most popular in the annals of music, but the demons are still with him. This book chronicles Taylor's turbulent rise to fame - from his 10 month stay in the exclusive private psychiatric institution where he finished high school and through his early years as a songwriter mentored by Paul McCartney, to his current status as a pop folk icon. Throughout his life Taylor has battled with drink and drug addiction and suffered frequent bouts of mental illness. Unlike many of his contemporaries who faced similar struggles, Taylor confronted and overcame his problems, emerging as an inspirational figure. "Fire and Rain" traces his remarkable road to recovery, including his troubled marriage to pop star Carly Simon and the premature death of his brother due to alcoholism. This is the first-ever biography of James Taylor.

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About the Author:

Ian Halperin is a musician, the author of Shut up and Smile (also available at Mainstream) and co-author of Who Killed Kurt Cobain? He now lives in Ottawa, Ontario.